Draft-rigging for railway-cars.



PAIENTBD SEPT. 29

f ce'er afar 673667 fiiwz (1 S. OTIS. DRAFT RIGGING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION IILIZD Ill. 31, 1903.

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I UNITED STATES iatentcd September- 29, 1903.

SPENCER OTIS, OF CIIICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DBAFT-RlGGlNG FOR RAlLWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of hitters Patent No. 789,912, dated. September 29, 1903.

Application filed January 8 1, 1905 Serial Fa. 141,239. (No model.)

To aZLwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SPENCER OTlS, a citizen of the United States, residingat.Chieago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Rigging for Railway- Cars, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to that class of mechanisrns commonly termed draft-rigging and adapted to be used in connection with railway-cars, and particularly to the means by which the injurious effect of the shocks usually imparted to'the draft-riggingduring the stopping and starting of a. cor is largely minimizct'hall of which will more fully hereinaiter appear.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a draft-rigging with a simple, ocenornical, and ethcient air-cushion by which the injurious clIec-ts duo to the shocks of stopping and startingthe car are largely minimized.

Further objects of the invention will appear from an xaminnt-ion of. the drawings and the following description and claims.

'lhcinventionconsistsprincipallyinadraftrigging for railway-ears in which there are combined adraw-bsr, a supplementary aircylinder, and a piston in such air-cylinder connected with the draw-oar, whereby the usual injurious effects due to the stopping and starting of the train on thedmit-rigging are largely minimized.

The invention consists, furer, in the features, combinations, and detaiis of constructic-n hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying dran'ings,Figi1re l is .a plan view of a draft-rigging as itappears when constructed and arranged in accord once with these improveirzents; and :3 an enlarged sectional elevation of the aircylinder and a part of the draw-bar mechanism, taken on line2 of Fig.1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

In the art towhich this invention relates it is well known that in the use of d raft-rig gin-g cushioning and tension s3; are. employed to minimize the eli'ec" and jars on the draft- "'iillSill inarting of a heavy sown that the ears when they tori train or trains. It is further it oi the shocks this spring mechanism does not absorb enough of the shocks due to the sudden stoppingand starting of the eat-sand that as a consequence the springs or part of the draw-bar mechanism are liable to become broken.

The principalobjcot of this invention'therm fore is to provide a draft-rigging with supplementary mechanism, such as an air cnshion or cushions, which will allow a certain amount. of movement before compression takes place and permit such a cushioning effeet as will largely minimize the shocks due to stopping: and starting ol' the train, thus preserving the mechanisms from the injurious ell-cots thereofiwhile permitting the cushioning-springs to perform their usual tune tions, all of which will be thoroughly under stood and appreciated by those skilled in the arm In constructing a draft-rigging in accordance with theseimprovements I provide a drew-bar u, having the usual twin coupler;

head I; and interleel'l." j knuckle c, all construeted and arrange in the usual manner. This draw-bar is provided with a U shaped end strap (Z, bolted or otherwise secured to the draw-bar, providingn space in which the usual cushioning spring or springs e are inserted and arran cd between follower-plates j and g. These iollower-plates, as is usual, are guided and held in position by means of cheek-plates" l let into the drat-tirnbers of the underpinning of a railway-car.

ln order to absorb the sudden or unusual shocks or jars and minimize their injurious effects on the draft-rigging, I provide supplemental-y mechanism in the shape of an aircylinder 1' and arrange it in the rear of the d rzuwharand in linetherewith. This air-cylinder is provided with hands or strengthening members j, which are let into the drafttimbers and hold therein by means-of the bolts k. The air-cylinder is further provided with a transverse partition I at or near its transverse center, which divides it into two air-chambers m and 11, arranged in tandem relation. Each of these air-chambers is provided with a movable piston p and q, loosely itting therein. A piston-rod? is provided and rigidly secured to each piston, passing loosely through the transverse partition and i i t thefront'end-of-the'cylinder and pivotally connected at t with the real-of the draw-bar mechanism; 7 i .7 A

' From an examination of the drawings and a consideration of the foregoing description it will be seen that as the pistons and pistonrod mechanism are loosely fitted in their re spective chambers, partition, and end of the cylinder the air may be rapidly cushioned by 10 any sudden or unusual shock or jar, but can eventually pass from one chamber into the other, and thereby permit the parts to stay in the desired operative position, while, as above suggested, any sudden or unusual shock or p :5 jar is largely absorbed, thereby tending to preserve the mechanisms from any injurious effects therefrom, as will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

I claim--- 2o 1. In draft-rigging of the'class described,

the combination of a draw-bar, cushioningspring mechanism therefor, an air-cylinder in the rear of such draw-bar, adividing-par tition in suchcylinder dividing it into'tvicr air-ehambers,a piston in each of such cham- 05' bers loosely fitted therein, and a single stem or red connected with both of said pistons I and with the draw-bar, substantially aside scribed.

2. In draft-rigging of the class described-k stantially as described. SPENCER OTIS.

Witnesses: r

, THOMAS F. SHERIDAN-,1

HARRY I. Caounm 

